United States Attorney’s Office

Northern District of Iowa

United States Attorney Stephanie M. Rose

PRESS RELEASE For further information contact:

Bob Teig
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE (319) 363-6333
Date: April 21, 2010 Cedar Rapids, Iowa

LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICIALS INTRODUCE SAFE STREETS TASK FORCE

Safe streets in Cedar Rapids is the goal of a multi-jurisdictional operation

combining local, state, and federal law enforcement resources. The Cedar Rapids Safe
Streets Task Force was introduced today by United States Attorney Stephanie Rose at
a press conference at the Cedar Rapids Police Department’s Community Connections
office in southeast Cedar Rapids.

“This task force will work to put the worst and most dangerous offenders behind
bars – either state or federal,” said Rose. “People who illegally possess guns, those
who commit drug offenses, and repeat offenders should expect that their cases will be
screened to determine if state or federal prosecution will take them out of the
community for the longest possible time. Whichever works best will be pursued.”

The Safe Streets Task Force is made up of law enforcement officers from the
Federal Bureau of Investigation; Drug Enforcement Administration; Bureau of Alcohol,
Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives; U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement;
United States Marshals Service; Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation; Cedar Rapids
Police Department; Marion Police Department; Sixth Judicial District Department of
Correctional Services; Linn County Sheriff’s Office; and Iowa Department of Inspections
and Appeals. The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Iowa and
the Linn County Attorney’s Office are also partners in the task force. The task force
was formalized in December 2009.

Special Agent in Charge Weysan Dun of the FBI said “this task force is based on
a national model used successfully in other jurisdictions since 1992. The concept
combines the FBI’s and other federal agencies’ experience in long term, complex
investigations and local law enforcement’s experience and familiarity with the local
community to address gang, drug, and violent crime.”

According to Cedar Rapids Police Chief Greg Graham, “the Safe Streets Task
Force was formed in response to violent and drug crime and a gang presence in Cedar
Rapids. We plan to use our best resources – local, state, and federal – to combat
these problems.”

Resources from the Safe Streets Task Force will be available to all law
enforcement agencies with related investigations, whether or not those agencies are
members of the task force.

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